Canada marks ‘deadliest’ year in its history

Canada recently had its deadliest year on record, according to a demographic report released Wednesday by Statistics Canada. But the dubious milestone is more the product of greying citizens than of untimely tragedy.

In 2011, the national death toll reached 242,074 souls, representing the highest population loss since the introduction of the Vital Statistics registration system in the 1920s. The good news, relatively speaking, is that analysts say the increase can be explained by population growth — more people, more death — as well as the aging of the population, with Canada’s share of older seniors continuing to increase.

In fact, in six of the nation’s 13 provinces and territories, the number of deaths in 2011 reached new heights: Nova Scotia, Quebec, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and Nunavut.

Source: Statistics Canada

In another first, 2011 saw roughly the same number of female deaths as male, with 121,032 women and 121,042 men dying that year. The finding is noteworthy because it reflects a continuing decline in male mortality over the past three decades.

Put simply, couples today stand a better chance of growing old together than ever before. To wit, over the past 10 years, StatsCan found that the life expectancy of males rose on average by 3.6 months annually, versus just 2.4 months for females.

On average, Canadian males age 65 will live up to 83.8 years, while Canadian women age 65 are expected to reach 86.7. In other words, an additional 18.8 and 21.7 years; comparatively, men and women at age 65 in 1961 could expect an additional 13.5 and 16.1 years, respectively.

Source: Statistics Canada

Also unprecedented in 2011 was the infant mortality rate, which reached its lowest recorded level since data collection began: 4.8 deaths per 1,000 live births. StatsCan noted that the infant mortality rate had previously remained steady, around five deaths per 1,000 live births since 2006.

The bureau also provided a breakdown of neonatal mortality, reporting that 63 per cent of those infants who died during the first year of life passed away in their first week of life.

Misty Harris is a nationally recognized journalist known for her stories on social science, consumer trends, demographics, academic studies, and marketing. For more than a decade, her articles have been... read more featured on the front pages of Canada’s top newspapers, including the National Post, Calgary Herald, Edmonton Journal, Vancouver Sun, Victoria Times-Colonist, Montreal Gazette, The Province, The Leader-Post, The Star-Phoenix, The Windsor Star, and Ottawa Citizen, in addition to such online news hubs as Canada.com.
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